In 1992 a coalition of Independent State Parties united to form the U.S. Taxpayers Party with the common goal of limiting the Federal Government to its Constitutional boundaries and restoring the foundations of civil government back to the fundamental principles our country was founded upon. Some of the State Affiliate Parties have adopted the national party name while others have adopted or retained a different name. In 1992, the Party's presidential candidate, Howard Phillips was on the ballot in 21 states with Albion Knight Jr. as Phillips' running mate. In 1995, the Party became the fifth political party to be formally recognized by the Federal Election Commission as a national political party. In 1996 the Party achieved ballot access in 39 states, with Howard Phillips as its presidential nominee and Constitutional scholar Herb Titus as its vice-presidential nominee.